Hello Contest: A Lightweight Contest Logger for Linux Enthusiasts

If you’re an amateur radio operator who enjoys participating in CW, SSB, or RTTY contests and you’re running Linux, Hello Contest might be the perfect logging software for you.

Developed by Florian Thienel, Hello Contest is a simple yet effective contest logger written in Go, using GTK3 via the gotk3 bindings. It’s built specifically for Linux users, with a focus on CW contests on HF bands, but it’s flexible enough to support other modes too.

Key Features

• Keyboard-Friendly Workflow: Enter contacts quickly using just the keyboard. The “Enter Sends Message” (ESM) style is fully supported, making for efficient operation during high-rate contesting.
• Real-Time Scoring: See your rate, score, multipliers, and QSO stats updated in real-time—both per band and overall.
• Flexible Export Options: Export your log in Cabrillo, ADIF, CSV, or even as a call history file.
• Integrated Lookup Tools: It supports DXCC and SCP lookups, and can leverage previous contest logs to predict exchanges.
• Spotting Integration: Use DX clusters or local CW skimmers for a live list of spotted stations.
• Radio and Keyer Support: Works with Hamlib for CAT control and supports CW transmission via cwdaemon.
• Map Integration: Visualize working stations on F5UII’s HamDXMap.
• Cross-Mode Support: Even though it’s focused on CW, it also works well for SSB or RTTY.
• Macro Profiles: Create dedicated CW macros for both Run and Search & Pounce modes.

Install Options

Hello Contest provides several easy installation methods:

• AppImage: Just download, make executable, and run.
• Deb Package: Install it like any other .deb on Debian-based systems.
• AUR: Arch Linux users can install hellocontest directly from the AUR.
• From Source: Use make to build locally. Requirements include GTK+3 and Pango libraries.

For developers, it uses Google’s Protocol Buffers to store log data, and the UI is defined using a Glade interface file embedded at compile time.

Known Issues

Users running Wayland may encounter UI bugs—especially with the “New Contest” dialog. The developer recommends switching to X11 if this happens.

Why You Might Like It

If you’re looking for a focused, Linux-native contest logging app that doesn’t try to do everything but gets the essentials right, Hello Contest delivers. It’s open-source, efficient, and tailored for the needs of serious contesters who prefer a clean and uncluttered interface.

Whether you’re a seasoned contester or just dipping your toes into radio sport, Hello Contest is worth exploring.

Learn More & Download:
🔗 GitHub Repository
📦 AppImage & DEB Releases
📖 Wiki & Documentation